22 
ALLEN’S BOOK OF BERRIES—1922 
quality. After a heavy rain during picking time the McAlpin 
will have less sand and dirt on the berries than any variety 
we know. This is important, especially where mulching mater¬ 
ials are scarce and high priced. Its excellent quality makes 
McAlpin a good one for the home or local market. It is also an 
excellent shipper, bringing top market prices. Beautiful in ap¬ 
pearance, very productive and unsurpassed in quality. McAlpin 
planted with Big Late, makes a dandy combination and one 
that has made money for us the last few years. For vigor, 
quality, productiveness and all around merit, McAlpin is hard to 
beat. 
Parson’s Beauty. Same description as for Gibson. Both var¬ 
ieties produce a great quantity of berries that are dark in color 
and part easily from the cap. This fact, and their rich dark 
red color make them fine for canning and preserving. Price 
list page 23. 
Sample. The .berries are a perfect strawberry type, bright red 
in color, uniformly large in size, delicious in flavor and very 
attractive in appearance. It is very productive and firm enough 
to ship. Blossoms imperfect. Plant with it Aroma, Big Joe, or 
Magic Gem. It is a very hardy variety, making it especially 
popular in the Northern States. Sample has stood the acid test of 
time and found to be pure gold. Price list page 23. 
Steven’s Late Champion. A vigorous grower and quite produc¬ 
tive of large, bright red berries of good quality. Ripens very 
late, blooms late in the season which makes it almost immune 
to late frosts. Very popular in New England and the Middle and 
Northern States. Price list page 23. 
Wm. Belt. For a long time Wm. Belt was the standard of 
quality—now it shares honors with the Chesapeake and McAlpin. 
Wm. Belt berries are large in size and somewhat irregular in 
shape. This variety is indispensable and it takes the lead when¬ 
ever quality is an important consideration. Wm. Belt is at its best 
in the Middle and Northern States, and in many sections it is the 
only variety wanted for home use or nearby market. The berries 
are large and of a bright, glossy color. When once tasted, these 
berries will sell themselves. Our plants of this variety are fine, 
and we believe those in the market who want something of highest 
quality for home use, or local market can do no better than to plant 
some of our Wm. Belt. Price list page 23. 
Important 
The plant crop is very short this year on account of the con¬ 
tinued dry weather this summer. This condition is general in 
all the plant producing sections. Here in Maryland the plant 
crop and fruiting patches as well are not over 50 per cent as 
good as last year. We have reports from Michigan, Kansas, Ten¬ 
nessee and other plant sections that 50%-60% is a good esti¬ 
mate. 
Now strawberries have been the only crop we know of that 
has paid well for the last several years without a single bad year. 
This is bound to be reflected in an enormous demand for plants. 
It is true in our own correspondence this summer that there has 
been the greatest inquiry for strawberry plants for fall and 
spring delivery - that we have ever known. 
This fact, coupled with the short crop of plants, makes it im¬ 
perative that you get your order in early to be sure of getting 
the varieties you want, or possibly getting even your second or 
third choice. Order early—we will hold the plants until plant¬ 
ing time. 
Our Prices 
We had hoped to make a sweeping reduction in prices this 
year, but owing to the excessively dry weather, not only here, 
but all over the country, the situation does not justify it. In 
our own fields the cost of production per acre was considerably 
less than last year, but very much more per 1000 plants. The 
dry weather has prevented the beds from matting thickly. It 
would be money in our pockets this season with our narrow beds 
